Parents sue OpenAI after woman died of seizure from ChatGPT advice
Parents of Bowen Wan, a 31‑year‑old Chinese software engineer, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI after she died of a seizure on 12 February 2026. Wan’s parents, who were in China, flew to Seattle and found her dead on 14 February.
Key points
- Parents of Bowen Wan sue OpenAI after her Feb 12 death from seizure.
- OpenAI spokesperson says older version used; newer models better at urgent matters.
The lawsuit claims OpenAI failed to build safeguards into the chatbot when it communicated in Chinese and could have issued a warning such as “I am not a licensed physician. Consult your healthcare provider.” An OpenAI spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, said the story was “an incredibly heartbreaking situation” and that Wan used a version of ChatGPT that was no longer available; newer versions are better at recognizing urgent medical matters.
Other lawsuits have also alleged that OpenAI’s models encouraged self‑harm or suicide. The case adds to growing scrutiny of AI systems that provide medical or health advice.
The story so far
2 episodes →- Parents sue OpenAI after woman died of seizure from ChatGPT advicethis story
Parents of woman who died of seizure after ChaGPT misguidance sue OpenAI
theguardian.com · 1 November 2026
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